11.06.2007

• Today I wrote a piece commenting on an article on climate change written by US ambassador to India, David Mulford. Take a look at it here.
• Problems/challenges being faced by airline businesses in India
• Duopoly of aircraft suppliers
• No control on fuel costs
• Monopoly of infrastructure providers
• Low entry barriers; and
• Fickle customers
• How many civilian aircraft are operating in India?
• Reportedly about 270.
• This number is expected to touch 480 in the next five years.
• RBI to come out with new consumer price index
• The goal is to anchor inflation expectations in India so as to align them with the global levels as soon as possible for ensuring smooth economic integration with the global economy.
• The increasing importance of services in the consumption basket is making the WPI (Wholesale Price Index) less representative.
• A single CPI (Consumer Price Index) also could be less presentative because there are differing consumption trends for the rich and the poor, the rural and the urban, and also among regions across the country.
• What are consent orders being mooted by CCI – Competition Commission of India?
• CCI has decided to introduce consent orders, which are settlements with those charged with offences.
• The party in question consents to stop activities that could be subject to regulatory action and the commission refrains from further proceedings.
• More expressways planned
• Government is planning to add 4000 KM of expressways across the country from the beginning of the 12^th Plan. This is in addition to the already 1000 KM that is planned as part of the NHDP (National Highways Development Programme) VI.
• The average distance covered in India is 250 to 300 KM per day. The average in developed countries is about 500 KM.
• About 40% of the total time taken to reach a destination is attributed to stoppages made at state entry points and toll booths.
• Expressways are access controlled, barricaded six lane highways on which travel can be faster.
• Today’s article in ET by Kiran Karnik on Art, freedom and economics is worth a read. Don’t miss it. I love it for its originality of thinking.
• The gist of the argument is that communities that permit, and ideally encourage diversity of thought and opinion are more likely to produce theories and products that are different and innovative.
• Who is Douglas Tompkins?
• He is the US millionaire who has been acquiring vast tracts of land from across the South American continent with a declared purpose of saving the environment. But local people across the Latin American countries are now feeling that he is seeking control of the strategic resources. They worry that he might never cede the lands to the state, as he has been promising.
• His stated intention is to protect them from agribusiness or industrial development, and one day turn them over to the governments as nature reserves.
• 8^th IIFA Awards
• ‘Rang de Basanti’ won the best film award in addition to 10 other awards.
• Hrithik Roshan won the Best Actor award for his performance in ‘Krrish.’
• Rani Mukherjee won the Best Actress award for her performance in ‘Kabhie Alvidana Na Kehna’.
• Tennis
• What a finale for the French Open.
• This year is very unique for a double hatrick. Both the champions – men and women’s champions – won the title for the third year in a row.
• Nadal beat Federer in the exciting final yesterday. Hope you all watched the match. It was very riveting.